Academic Advisor II, TRIO - Upward Bound

TRIO – Upward Bound invites applications for an Academic Advisor II to join the team in Browning, Montana . The person assigned to this position provides a variety of student services to Upward Bound high school students assigned to the position in an effort to further the students' college successes in completing high school, gaining admission into postsecondary education, and subsequently succeeding in postsecondary education.

Essential duties of the position include but are not limited to:

• Staff supervision of local part-time tutoring staff, as needed. Duties will include staff recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation. It will require daily communication with staff to implement services, monitor progress, clarify uncertainty, motivate high performance, and solve problems.
• Academic year service planning and implementation to address the requirements of the UB grant, ensure the program is placing a high percentage (90%) of it’s student participants into a program of postsecondary education, and addresses the individual needs of each participant. Duties will include service plan assessment followed by planning and implementation of monthly advisement service units appropriate for each high school grade level. Service units will at a minimum address college planning and preparation, financial (aid) literacy, career counsel, standardized test preparation, and service learning.
• Individualized educational development plans (IDP’s) development and maintenance. Duties will require student assessment, prescription of services, monitoring, and updating IDP reports.
• Pre-college advisement through regular meetings with individuals and/or groups of UB students to provide the following services: assessment, academic advisement, financial aid and college admissions assistance, career counsel, scholarship research assistance, and occasional tutoring.
• Serving as a student advocate when necessary. Duties will include assessing the academic and personal performance of the student participants. When necessary and appropriate, the position is expected to advocate for student growth through meetings with school personnel.
• Communication with parents, school personnel, and community partners to inform, remedy problems, answer questions. Duties will include annual meetings with parents, daily email correspondence, occasional presentations about the program, and cultivation of relationships with target school faculty and community stakeholders.
• Day-to-day management of the program in a satellite location. Duties will include identification and recruitment of eligible participants, assembly and preparation of student participation and academic progress data for target school and Department of Education reporting purposes, creation and maintenance of compliant and confidential records using both hard copy and digital filing systems, and creation and dissemination of recruitment materials, social media profiles, and the department website.

This position will manage and supervise any academic year tutoring staff (student employees).

Required Skills

• Experience with advising practices and procedures; established experience in academic advisement or instruction of high school students from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Possess knowledge of potential postsecondary barriers associated with students from low income, first generation and minority backgrounds, and ability to advise/counsel/mentor students accordingly
• Ability to develop an understanding of the Montana University System’s and tribal college major options, admissions policies and procedures scholarship opportunities and procedures, and the financial aid process and procedures.
• Familiarity with, or the ability to learn, the academic requirements of the Montana University System’s and tribal colleges
• Knowledge of good advising practices, and knowledge of, or the ability to learn, standard course and graduation requirements
• Requires effective public speaking skills necessary to conduct formal Upward Bound informational presentations to school personnel and community organizations
• Professional communication and interpersonal skills, as the successful applicant must be able to work effectively with a wide variety of people
• Requires extensive computer experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Explorer, and Outlook applications
• Excellent written communication and organizational skills
• Ability to set priorities while under pressure
• Attention to detail and accurate record-keeping
• Possess self-initiative and independence to conduct duties on a daily basis
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• The position requires candidate to possess (or ability to obtain upon hire) a current Montana driver’s license; during the academic year, the academic coordinator will drive to target schools

Minimum Required Experience

• Associate Degree and two (2) years of directly related advising experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of MUS and Browning Public School systems
• Experience with Blumen database for student information tracking

About TRIO - UB and UM

Upward Bound is a federally funded (ED) academic program that services educationally disadvantaged high school students (defined as their meeting low income and/or first generation educational backgrounds). The legislated purpose of Upward Bound is to provide the requisite skills and motivation that qualifying students will need for college success.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.



To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• Video: Mission First, People Always
• UM on YouTube
• The State of Montana
• Visit Montana

Position Details

Position Title: Academic Advisor II

Position Number: NEW

Department: TRIO – Upward Bound

Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 10 months/year.

Salary: $16.98/hr

Union Affiliation: FOCUS-MFPE

Probationary Period: Six months minimum

Benefits Include : Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, July 25, 2021 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by the ‘Priority Application Date’ will be guaranteed consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates are required to submit the following materials online.

A complete application Includes:

1. Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
2. Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience
3. Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references

Job Location Browning, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular